INDIANAPOLIS - Trailing 9-7 at the end of the third quarter, the Marian women's lacrosse team ramped up their offense in the fourth quarter out-pacing Georgetown College 5-2, with freshman Ruby Mason netting her first collegiate game-winner as the Knights downed the Tigers 12-11. Marian's comeback win lifts them to a 2-0 start on the season.
The Knights got off to a hot start in their home opener, netting the first three goals of the game. Ruby Mason scored the game's first goal as Emily Blackburn found her trailing teammate for the score. Less than one minute after the opening goal, Ella Grace Giedd found an open Katelynn Gray, as the duo connected for a 2-0 lead. Grace Martin scored unassisted to jump the lead to 3-0 halfway through the opening quarter, but the Tigers found life on offense in the closing minutes, scoring twice in the final 3:23.
Georgetown kept their run going as they netted three unanswered goals, jumping on top 5-3 with 8:22 remaining in the opening half. The Knights roared back to tie the game as Mason and Giedd scored back to back goals, however a fourth goal from Mac Miller in the first half with just under five minutes remaining put the Tigers back in front. Georgetown would hold their one-goal advantage for the remainder of the half, going into the break with a 6-5 lead.
In the third quarter Georgetown controlled possession early, holding Marian at bay before adding their seventh goal to the scoreboard at the 8:59 mark. Gray got Marian back on the board with her second goal of the game with 7:45 remaining, but it was not enough to close the gap as the Tigers added two more goals to increase their lead to three.
Madeline Dumke got Marian back into it with a late score in the third quarter, and in the fourth the offense kept rolling as Mason completed the hat trick with 11:25 remaining. Just 23 seconds off the draw of Mason's third goal, Gray completed her hat trick, as her third score of the night tied the game at 9-9. Marian and Georgetown traded goals as Miller and Dumke exchanged scores over the next three minutes, keeping the game knotted at 10-10.
Grace Martin would give Marian their first lead of the game since the second quarter with her fourth quarter goal, scoring with 7:39 remaining to take an 11-10 lead, however it was shot-lived as Faith Boa tied the game for the tigers just 24 seconds later. The game would remained tied until the final minute, with Marian taking over on possession with 1:53 remaining as the defense forced a clock violation. After coming out of a timeout, the Knights drew up a play for Mason, as the freshman connected on a pass from Giedd in the low crease and slashed in the go-ahead goal, giving Marian a 12-11 lead with 59.7 seconds remaining.
Marian's defense made one final hold after Georgetown won the draw, forcing an errant shot attempt in the final seconds to escape with the win.
The Knights out-shot the Tigers 33-28 in the win, while winning the draw control and ground ball battle. Mason's four-goal game led the Knights in scoring, while Gray had three goals on six shots. Giedd led Marian in shots with eight attempts, scoring once and adding two assists. Martin had a team-high five ground balls, and three Knights caused two turnovers in the win.
Marian will keep their undefeated record at home as they take on Thomas More on Wednesday, March 1. First draw is set for 6:00 p.m.
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